SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Hundreds of union workers rallied on the steps of the California Capitol on Saturday to show their support to Wisconsin unions as nearby counter-protesters called for an end to unions, creating a sometimes-tense scene.

The pro-union rally, one of many spearheaded Saturday by the political group, sharply denounced the drive by Wisconsin’s Republican Governor, Scott Walker, to end collective bargaining rights for state workers.

A group of anti-union demonstrators rallied across the street from the California Capitol, holding signs saying government and working families can’t afford unions any more.

The Sacramento Police Department said a counter-protester was assaulted by a pro-union supporter at about 1:45 p.m.

The alleged victim told police the suspect hit him on the hand with a bullhorn and choked him around the neck. The suspect was placed under citizen’s arrest, cited and released at the scene, according to police spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong.

Approximately 70,000 people gathered in Madison, Wisconsin for the biggest protest yet since the political firestorm erupted two weeks ago. Wisconsin Republican lawmakers say they have the votes to pass the bill, which would also force state employees to pay for more of their pension and health care costs, but all 14 Democrat state senators left the state to prevent the vote altogether.

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Comments (64)
  1. Play13 says:

    People that oppose unions are the same people that enjoy the benefits that unions gave everybody. 40 work weeks, overtime pay, better working conditions, protection from big business taking advantage of the common worker. I’ve worked in the private sector for over seventeen years and now I am a state worker. It took me over a year and a half to get a job with the state. State workers are an easy target because the media know they can stir the pot with stories like this. You private sector workers act as if you were denied the opportunity to apply for state work. Is there waste in state government? Of course there is and in any other business as well. It’s funny how gas is topping almost four dollars a gallon and big oil companies are making record profits, yet everybody wants to pick on state workers. This country is doomed! Our so called government is loving the fact people are turning against unions. If unions do faulted, who in the he’ll is going to look after the worker. Sure in he’ll ain’t the government or businesses. Watch what you people wish for! If you really want to make change, do away with all the liberal programs for people who are to lazy to work. They are the ones draining the system of money not state workers!

    1. DonCarr says:

      As a self employed marketing consultant. I would ask..who has a 40 hour week?
      I think you should be a little bit more entreprenueral in your outlook.

      1. Dell Marlin says:

        Carr: Most people have a 40 hour a week thanks to union collective bargaining decades ago–self employed choose to be self employed and their business dictates their hours. I was formerly a “forty hour a week” for line work but my management job required more as did my self employment later. So you want to go back to the 1920’s when workers had no rights! Great then say goodbye to the middle class.

      2. lotsoflaughs says:


    2. JOHNNY says:


  2. Rene Thoeni says:

    Does that mean France for instance has such good unions since they have a ridiculas 30 hour work week. You people are all brain washed by the union bosses. When a company has demand for it’s product it needs good workers, it raises it’s pays and benefits in hope to keep these employees.
    Federal employees have no colective bargining power and the reason is simple and the reason is simple, Elected officials that were mostly financed by union power would alternatly give in to any and all union demands or else and the government be mostly on strikes like the auto industry and many of the others that since have vanished from the landscape, like the machine and metal fabrication industry. Remember how the Greyhound bus line used to be.

    1. Carol C. says:

      Most elected officials, like Scott Walker, have a Koch addiction. Only his drug is power and money. Stop politicians from accepting so much cash and you will see
      a big change in government.

      1. Rene Thoeni says:

        Belief me I am very much aware of the corruption in government having worked for the SBA Disaster assistance. They have the most corrupt hiring practices there is and if one in the privat sector would do things they do one would get fined or even go to jail. In fact the entire disaster assistance programm is a fraud since it serves the purpose to gain votes in disaster declared areas regardless if the claims are bogus.
        The trouble is we have to find ways to learn to spend money where it is needed but the union bosses have set bad examples and with there obsurd demands have ruined many if not all of our industry’s. We used to be leader in everything, now we limp behind in about everything. Even Boeing is fighting for it’s life to stay on top with Airbus giving them a run for the money and don’t ever belief the Airbus employees are working for peanuts.

  3. FedUp says:

    Hey Government Workers!
    You SERVE the public not the other way around.

    WE employ you.

    You work for us.

    There are thousands of people who will gladly step in to do your job.

    1. mkshay says:

      You are a fool. I posted a comment further down for your enjoyment only.

  4. skeeter says:

    I have an idea, everyone go to the gun store, buy a gun, load it, put it in your mouth and pull the trigger. have a nice day

  5. Shar says:

    Americans have out grown the unions. They do more harm then good. Company’s going out of business and moving over sea’s because the unions make it so difficult for company’s to stay in business and we have so many bad teachers that we are stuck with because of the union. Because people are no longer judged on there work ethic if they are in the union and it’s the public and our children who pay the price. I use to be in the union and it is legalized crime! You have to pay your dues or get fined…You have to picked or get fined…. You have to go n strike or get find… Those people out there protesting do not have a choice the union controls them! Once your in the union they own you until you quite your job! We have laws set up to protect people in the work force that we didn’t have before, there for there is not longer a need for unions. It’s is all about money for them don’t be fooled that they care about the people!

  6. old fart says:

    Hundreds of union workers rallied on the steps of the California Capitol on Saturday to show their support. I hope they all drove there in their union made cars and their not just a bunch of hypocrites maybe they even live in union made homes. Or their just worried about their money?

  7. Judy says:

    Zaid Jilani, ThinkProgress: “It wasn’t teachers, fire fighters, policemen, and college students that caused the economic recession that has devastated government budgets – it was Wall Street. And as middle class workers are being asked to sacrifice, the rich continue to rig the system, dodging taxes and avoiding paying their fair share. In an interview with In These Times, Carl Gibson, the founder of US Uncut, which is organizing some of today’s UK-inspired massive demonstrations against tax dodgers, explains …. you’re paying more than the “combined income tax liability of GE, ExxonMobil, Citibank, and the Bank of America. . . . BANK OF AMERICA: In 2009, Bank of America didn’t pay a single penny in federal income taxes. . . CITIGROUP: Citigroup’s deferred income taxes for the third quarter of 2010 amounted to a grand total of $0.00. At the same time, Citigroup has continued to pay its staff lavishly. “John Havens, the head of Citigroup’s investment bank, is expected to be the bank’s highest paid executive for the second year in a row, with a compensation package worth $9.5 million.” . . . EXXON-MOBIL: The oil giant uses offshore subsidiaries in the Caribbean to avoid paying taxes in the United States. Although Exxon-Mobil paid $15 billion in taxes in 2009, not a penny of those taxes went to the American Treasury. This was the same year that the company overtook Wal-Mart in the Fortune 500. Meanwhile the total compensation of Exxon-Mobil’s CEO the same year was over $29,000,000. . . – GENERAL ELECTRIC: In 2009, General Electric — the world’s largest corporation — filed more than 7,000 tax returns and still paid nothing to U.S. government. . . .That same year GE CEO Jeffery Immelt — who recently scored a spot on a White House economic advisory board — “earned total compensation of $9.89 million.” In 2002, Immelt displayed his lack of economic patriotism, saying, “When I am talking to GE managers, I talk China, China, China, China, China….I am a nut on China. Outsourcing from China is going to grow to 5 billion.” . . . – WELLS FARGO: Despite being the fourth largest bank in the country, Wells Fargo was able to escape paying federal taxes by writing all of its losses off after its acquisition of Wachovia. Yet in 2009 the chief executive of Wells Fargo also saw his compensation “more than double” as he earned “a salary of $5.6 million paid in cash and stock and stock awards of more than $13 million.” Read:

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